How India, Pakistan and Bangladesh were formed

Seventy years ago, in August 1947, the British decided to end their 200-year long rule in the Indian subcontinent and to divide it into two separate nations, Muslim-majority Pakistan and Hindu-majority India.

The process of partition, however, was not simple. In addition to the British-controlled territories, the subcontinent also consisted of many other territories under French, Portuguese or Omani rule, as well as more than 500 sovereign princely states ruled by local…

Upon independence, the British gave the princely states the option to join India or Pakistan – by signing the Instrument of Accession – or to remain…